So it is pretty funny that this is my next post after I review a book about a princess! Let me just start by saying that I enjoy a good princess story as much as the next person, but I have issues with the whole "princess" mania in our society.
I hear parents often refer to their daughters as their little princess. Little girls wear disney princess clothes, carry princess lunch bags, and backpacks. So why is it that I have a problem with this? I honestly believe we are raising our daughters to be more self-absorbed than any generation that has ever come before it (and children are naturally self-centered, we are appealing to one of their least desirable character traits). By encouraging them to believe that they are "princesses" the message that we are sending is that somehow they are special compared to everyone around them. Take notice of the other motto's on girls clothing as they get older and move out of the princess phase, "spoilt", "diva", "brat". I can tell you that I have come in contact with a few of those kids too!
There is nothing more annoying than throwing a birthday party for your child and having some other little diva arrive and demand to be the centre of attention. Your child is not the center of my universe and quite frankly I usually don't think they are all that remarkable. Your child should be the center of your universe, they should know that you think they are wonderful and special, but with a healthy dose of "everyone has gifts and talents etc..."
And if by the way you feel tempted to fall into the perilous princess pit with your wee girl; take a look at the lives of some true princesses, try Princess Diana for instance... It isn't always the Disney happy ending. Remember we get to make our choices we don't get to choose the consequences.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Book of a Thousand Days
Book review #2
This story is loosely based on the Grimm's Fairytale "Maid Maleen". Hale has chosen to put her tale in a Mongolian setting. I have to give Hale her due the book seems very well researched and Hale uses a consistent voice throughout the novel. Unfortunately, I think that many people find the first person diarist style that is used in the novel less pleasant to read. Couple that with the fact that the main character Dashti's voice is somewhat halting and voila many people say that this is a disappointing work by Ms. Hale.
But I didn't read the book the first time I "read" it; I listened to a audio copy of the book and I have to say that the book is very well designed to be read aloud. I loved the story and thought that it was Hale's best book yet. So this month when I chose it for my bookclub to read and actually "read" the book I didn't enjoy it as much as I had when I had listened to it. The book didn't flow as well when I was reading it as it had when I had listened to it.
I still think that this is one of Shannon's great books and I would recommend it any young female reader. But if the child (or adult) that you are recommending the book for isn't much of a reader then perhaps have them listen to this one instead of reading it. The story is definitely worth it!
I give this book 4 stars out of 5.
This story is loosely based on the Grimm's Fairytale "Maid Maleen". Hale has chosen to put her tale in a Mongolian setting. I have to give Hale her due the book seems very well researched and Hale uses a consistent voice throughout the novel. Unfortunately, I think that many people find the first person diarist style that is used in the novel less pleasant to read. Couple that with the fact that the main character Dashti's voice is somewhat halting and voila many people say that this is a disappointing work by Ms. Hale.
But I didn't read the book the first time I "read" it; I listened to a audio copy of the book and I have to say that the book is very well designed to be read aloud. I loved the story and thought that it was Hale's best book yet. So this month when I chose it for my bookclub to read and actually "read" the book I didn't enjoy it as much as I had when I had listened to it. The book didn't flow as well when I was reading it as it had when I had listened to it.
I still think that this is one of Shannon's great books and I would recommend it any young female reader. But if the child (or adult) that you are recommending the book for isn't much of a reader then perhaps have them listen to this one instead of reading it. The story is definitely worth it!
I give this book 4 stars out of 5.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)